FR is a Treasure Trove of talented, compassionate, patriotic, wonderful people who gather every day to discuss the latest news and issues; salute and support our military and our leaders; tell a few jokes; learn a new word; write poetry; pray for those in need; and congratulate those who are deserving. Thank you, Jim Robinson, for giving us the vehicle in which we can express ourselves.

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997. I can remember lurking when there were only a few regulars who posted, and now there are over 60,000 who have registered for posting privileges. The forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

So many people have written me since my original Veteran's Day Tribute, asking how they, or a loved one, could be included in that tribute. Since I can no longer add the photos to the body of the thread, I've been including them in additional posts as I received enough to make another collage.

Still that doesn't seem to be enough. I think there's never been a better nor more appropriate time to keep the faces of our own Veterans and Active Military in front of FReepers--every day! That's why I wanted to do yet another Daily Thread .....ABOUT FReepers .....and FOR FReepers. But not only about our Military FReepers; for all FReepers! Wouldn't it be nice to get to know a few of the other FReepers as well? That's why, in addition to seeing FR's Finest Military Personnel every day, I thought it might be fun to feature a different FReeper (or FReepers) each day. If you would like to be pictured, or know someone who would, please FReepmail me and we'll turn the spotlight - on YOU - for the day!

And do let me know if you'd like your picture added to the groups of Veterans/Active Military below. I will keep this page updated, and continue to add them to the comment section of the original Veteran's Day thread as well.

We now have eleven groups of veterans/active military; we will post each group of three or four twice a week, with thumbnail/links of the remaining seven or eight groups on each thread. Click on any of the thumbnails below to see the group full-size.

This time, I have gone all out for the sake of satisfying my loyal readers' curiosity (hunger?) for the scoop on Martin_Fierro. Would you believe, Lars and I had to *wrestle* the private plane from FreeTheHostages and St.Louie1 (weren't they ever taught to share for crying out loud?). After airing it out for a few days (don't ask), we jetted off to Uruguay, personal assistants in tow of course, to hunt Martin_Fierro down and fire a few questions at him. Don't worry, dear fans, the doctor says I can be off of the antibiotics in about a month or so. (That darned itching )

Anyway, since nothing is too good for my loyal following, it is with utmost pride that I bring to you:

Martin_Fierro - The Exclusive National Inquisition Interview

dansangel:Please tell us what your national origins are.

Martin_Fierro:I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. My parents are a naturalized immigrant from South Korea and a "white American" (more on that later).

dansangel:: Why the affiliation with Uruguay?

Martin_Fierro:I spent part of the 70s living in Uruguay as an exchange student. People might be surprised to know that there's a lot of European influence (British, Italian, Spanish, German, Portugese) in that small Spanish-speaking country. Apart from isolated grumbling there about America's excesses (mostly in our exported Hollyweird culture), my experience was very positive. Uruguayans seemed to respect and admire all that we have and take for granted.

Martin_Fierro's favorite "ride"

dansangel:Why do you claim Uruguay as your home?

Martin_Fierro:I'm proud to say that I still remain in contact with my host family there. I acquired a taste for Máte, or strong gaucho tea. Never got the hang of the tango, though.

dansangel:Oh that's easy - why Lars and I can show .uh, never mind. Is Martin_Fierro your real name or an alias?

Martin_Fierro:I wasted a lot of time in college (also in the Pittsburgh area). Luckily, I graduated and left without destroying too many brain cells or being the defendant in a paternity suit.

dansangel:And here I always thought that's what a good liberal college education was for. Did you continue your education?

Martin_Fierro:Grad school was a much more rewarding experience. I've worked in my profession for several years (yes, I'm an attorney), and would like to try something else now.

dansangel:Give up the good life? FreeTheHostages might have to knock some sense into you.

Martin_Fierro:I've published scholarly articles relating to computers and the law, some of which have been cited in law review articles and elsewhere. A lot of developments have occurred in the overlap of those fields in the meantime, and I'd like to write more about them as time permits.

Martin_Fierro

dansangel:Oh, so you'd like to continue writing. Perhaps you can further the liberal cause with a good, mostly-true novel or two.

Martin_Fierro:My political leanings have never been Liberal. I experimented with Libertarianism after college, but became dissatisfied with its blind reliance on litigation and the morals of the marketplace. I've been a Republican ever since.

dansangel:Do I know how to pick 'em or what? OK, I'll bite. What caused you to walk on the wrong side of the tracks?

Martin_Fierro:As an "Amerasian," I strongly resent Affirmative Action policies or Census questions that compel a pigeonholed racial identity (Which parent's heritage would I choose? Why does it matter? To what does my choice entitle me? Who decides that?). The last time I checked, this country's motto was "Out Of Many, One" -- not the reverse. I also recall Dr. King aspiring to the day when we'd be judged by the content of our character, not merely by the color of our skin. Racial Balkanists like the "Reverend" Jackson have forgotten that.

dansangel:No need to be nasty about a man of the cloth .

Martin_Fierro:I'm an American, dammit, and not any hyphenized subflavor thereof.

dansangel:OK I didn't mean to anger you .

Martin_Fierro:I find myself agreeing more and more with Michelle Malkin's columns on illegal immigration. Close the borders!

dansangel:A bit harsh, wouldn't you say? Let's talk about something else. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Martin_Fierro:My hobbies and interests include motorcycling, good food, jazz, writing, cartooning and computers. The only exercise I get is when I exercise my rights.

dansangel:And what about a love life?

Martin_Fierro:I love my wife very much.

dansangel:And that, my dear loyal readers, sums up the secret life of Martin_Fierro in a nutshell. I hope your appetites are sated until the next time we meet.

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar. 2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up. 3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit. 4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it. 5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

God Bless Our Military

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Daisyscarlett; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nations leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

It really is sad. Some may think it laughable; but it's not. It's not merely another piece of news either-not just something to chatter about at morning coffee break. It's sad. It's tragic. Is it criminal?

Doesn't Jesus say something about adults pulling children under thereby being responsible at the judgment? He said that if one trips up a child it would a millstone hung around that person's neck as payment for spoiling one of the children.

But what about adults slinging millstones around kids' necks? Same judgment on the adults, right?

As far as I can see it, Oz and Sharon have hung Jack with a large rock around his neck. The entertainment world calls their family just that-entertainment. But a family is not meant to be here on this earth for others' entertainment. It is here to ground itself on the Word of God, live for God and then answer to God at the judgment for what was done in this temporary span called "earthly sojourn."

Yet Oz and family have so twisted their divine purpose for existence that not only have mother and father paid dearly with their debauched lifestyle-laced incessantly with cursing to the nth-but now Jack, the son, has admitted himself into rehab. Why? Lots of problems, one of them being alcohol and other drugs.

California, naturally. And the family stands alongside the son. The father is most pleased that the son had sense enough to get help. Blah blah blah and more airhead stuff for the media to suck up in the name of parental compassion.

Of course, the whole playout was from crazyville. But now that the teen boy is slung around the head with a millstone, that's not funny. In fact, should it not be found somewhere in the category of criminal? Is there not some kind of abuse that has been going on here for some time?

According to the daughter who refused from the outset to play the loose hanging family drama, the family never used swear words prior to the TV time frame. They were taught to be English proper, nice, mannerly, and abiding by rules of the house. Interesting.

So she has opted to keep clear of the nuthouse household on screen. No doubt her independent move will keep her sane and perhaps give her perspective to continue into adulthood with some balance regarding values and the like. Time will tell, off course.

But to think that Jack has wallowed in the daily camera fondling of his every move. To think that certain scenes were even manufactured to make the family appear even loonier than it is. To think that mother and father set their children up for profanity, gross displays of whatevers, and so on and so on. To think that TV watchers stroked all this with laughter. To think that all of this has been marketed in the name of "family" is beyond moral and rational limits.

However, our world has become so jaded that the Osbounre crazy den has become simply another hangout for the bored and curious. For that, Jack is paying the price. And others in the household have also.

Doesn't this sound adult tilted coming from 17-year-old Jack: "I voluntarily checked myself into a detox facility for my own health and well-being"?

"I got caught up in my new lifestyle and got carried away with drugs and alcohol," he explained to PEOPLE mag.

Then this comforting shot from Papa: "It takes a lot of courage and strength to admit you need help, and both Sharon and I are proud Jack is facing his problems head-on." Yuck village, Pa.

Yet it is Mama Sharon who states she takes blame for the falldown of the family. This will be the last run, she claims. But she claimed that before in an interview with Barbara Walters. Again, time will tell.

"This is definitely the last year," Sharon stated. "We can't do it anymore."

In other words, Osbournes, stop ruining yourselves. Jesus would be proud?

If more people would do what .45MAN and I do - boycott Hollywierd - those phonies who propagate lack of morals and family values would just simply disappear. My TV watching is limited to the news, the Discovery Channel, the Learning Channel, Animal Planet and a couple of science fiction programs on Friday night.

.45MAN and I have not stepped foot in a theater nor rented a "mainstream" movie (we have rented a few with religious overtones) in 2 and a half years.

When "The Passion" comes out, we will break our boycott of the theaters.

The members of the Hollywierd sect are master manipulators. It's just too bad that many people cannot see them as such.

San Francisco rocks. Dean will see to it that it rocks till morn. The gays in particular will rock the night away--rock, rock, rock baby rock.

Dem pres hopeful Howard Dean, former Vermont governor, "has become a darling of his party's left wing," according to SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE reporter Carla Marinucci.

Yes, he has. Not only the left wing of the Dem conclave, but the left left wing of the Dem conclave.

And that makes it all the more exciting for the Republicans. In this left left swing of Dean there is the fracas now developing between liberal John Kerry and left left Howard Dean.

Nothing like witnessing Dems fighting among themselves, especially when Ms. Hillary came out last night at the Connecticut speech engagement in which she delighted hearers with worn metaphors of Bush being like unto a snake oil salesman.

With Ms. H giving forth attic vintage terminology and Dean and Kerry in tiffs, how much more can the Dems destroy themselves than what they have already begun? (Of course, there is more they can do to destroy themselves, all of which will play out in months ahead; but it is nice to give them a margin of civility along the journey, hence the question).

But back to Dean at Kerry's jugular and vice versa.

"Democrats are almost as angry at the Democratic Party as they are at the Republicans, because its presidential candidates, including (Sen.) John Kerry, don't have the courage to stand up on issues including gay rights. . ." Dean said in a telephone interview Monday.

Okay. That's the Monday start for going for it Tuesday night. It's smart to set the media up a night before show time.

Diverting his attention from Iraqi Freedom to gay rights, Dean is doing himself in royally with Middle America. Go for it, Dean babe. Go for it by being disillusioned that a night in San Francisco is reality center. Go for their applause meters jumping off the walls. Go for the stroking you will receive from the San Fran smiling faces for all the more it will shift you left left of left so that even Dems with brains in gear won't tolerate such an unhealthy, unreal extreme.

Dean as governor, recall, put same sex marriage into his pocket as a political success. Go, Dean, go.

Now he's going after the US military with snide putdowns such as "we won't always have the strongest military." Further, get this one for hookers: "We've gotten rid of (Saddam Hussein). I suppose that's a good thing."

Did you hear that? "I suppose that's a good thing."

I don't think that even that will play in San Fran. After all, gays may be known for being a bit different, but they are also profiled as being kind and compassionate; I can hardly see a gay caucus support for the Cult of Hussein the Horrible.

However, with Dean putting his loafers in his mouth concerning Saddam, Kerry quickly flew into the ring with protestations. How could any sane person, let alone a free-loving American, say such things as Dean was spewing forth?

Kerry's communications director stated to media :"(Dean) and the guy who used to be Iraq's information minister must be the only two people who aren't sure whether it's a good thing Saddam Hussein is now out of power.

"No U.S. president, no credible candidate for the presidency -- no one -- has ever even suggested that the U.S. would not always have the strongest military. To even ruminate, or ponder it, raises serious questions about whether he has the capacity to be commander in chief."

Nevertheless, Dean, as heady as ever with his San Fran show forthcoming within hours, told reporters that Kerry is just "worried" because Dean has now sliced out Kerry's image as the "inevitable nominee."

Combine sugar, butter, salt and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil and boil for 6 minutes. Stir constantly to prevent sticking or scorching. In a large mixing bowl, pour boiling hot mixture over chocolate chips, marshmallow cream and walnuts. Stir until chocolate is completely melted.

Pour into a large, buttered jelly roll pan or two buttered 13-by-9-by-2-inch pans. Let cool two to three hours. Cut and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Makes 36 to 48 pieces.

If you prefer to use a candy thermometer to determine the syrup's doneness, it is ready to be poured over the other ingredients when it's reached the 'soft-crack stage.' Once you pour the hot syrup over the other ingredients, work quickly because it sets up quickly and will make crystals around the edge if you don't immediately pour it into the prepared pans.

Wow, named after a fictional character and philosopher in José Hernández's work! Pretty fancy. Martin_fierro, if you're a lawyer who distrusts lawyers, you're my kinda lawyer!

Great meeting you! You're definitely one of Freeper's finest. 1999 -- that's early by my 2001 standards to join. I get so jealous you all found us sooner.

I met Michelle Maulkin at CPAC -- she's incredibly generous with her time, about taking photos with people and talking to them. I've listened to what she says about immigration, and I guess I don't understand her to say "close the borders." I like the fact that we're a country of immigrants and I think that's part of what makes us great: no one's more patriotic than the lawfully naturalized immigrants-turned-citizens, in my experience. I just like controlled immigration where the naturalization process happens lawfully, so essentially we can screen (for criminals and such). Do you agree with that?

Did you give Lars permission to drive the plane? Does he even know how to drive the plane?? Seems to me that this is a lawsuit. Doing some quick, back-of-the-envelope calculations, seems like you and I could get a pretty penny from dansangel for this misappropriation and misuse of your property. The only problem being .45 man seems like such a good guy and I do like his line of work so, so I wouldn't want to take away his swimming pool on account of a wayward wife.

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